When Lindsey suggested that I come along on this adventure a few months ago, I considered it to be a "no brainer". I love seeing new places, meeting new people and the chance to spend this time with her seemed like a perfect way to spend the summer. Within my first 12 hours of being here, I wasn't sure if I had made a terrible decision or not. Kampala is unlike any place that I have ever been. The intensity cannot be described with words or in pictures and being with Lindsey, there is no easing into the situation. It is overwhelming at first to say the least. However, now that I have gotten my feet under me, I am quickly falling in love with this place and couldn't be happier with my decision to come along for the ride.
I read through this blog many times before actually setting foot in Uganda and although what she has written in the past is very moving and powerful, it does not capture what it is like to be here. To do that would be impossible as this place has an energy to it that cannot be described. It is (somewhat) structured chaos. At the center of all of the chaos is the Kisenyi slum.
My second day here we took a tour of the slum and I quickly learned why I was informed by Lindsey that I would not be wearing flip flops. (quick side note for those of you that don't know me - I live full time in Mexico and feel pretty comfortable in the developing world) Nothing that I have experienced in my life could have prepared me for the situation there. The first two things that you notice when you enter Kisenyi are the amount of people and the amount of garbage. It had recently rained so everything was muddy, which didn't seem to slow the place down one bit. At first it seems like complete insanity. People selling things, people begging, people robbing people, people cooking things on the street, people sleeping in the street, people going to the bathroom in the street, people EVERYWHERE. I was warned before entering that if you hesitate for a second, you will get overwhelmed by it all and that couldn't be more true. After some time there though, you start to notice a pace and a vibe that I really loved.
So, now to the important stuff. We met with the boys outside the slum community house and these kids really are incredible. I've spent a couple days with them now feeding and doing some very basic medical stuff and I still can't fully grasp their living situation. It's kind of impossible to totally wrap your mind around even when you see it first hand. They are all covered in dirt, most don't have any shoes, and every one of them has some sort of injury or sickness. However, the minute that they show up, it is clear that they love and respect Lindsey. The most incredible part of that is the respect. Women in Uganda are not like Lindsey. She handles business in that slum better than any man I know could (myself included). She has gotten both the boys and the adult men that we are working with to fall in line and she clearly will not be taken advantage of. This is crucial as even the people that we are working with here will try to take whatever they can from you you any chance they get.
This situation that she has created here is impressive to say the least. She is doing some real good in the lives of some kids that aren't loved by anyone.
Going forward, we are going to continue the feeding and medical program in Kisenyi and we have a local field reserved one day a week for soccer with the boys. Next week we are organizing HIV testing for all of the boys which will certainly be an intense situation. Whatever else develops will remain to be seen. Every day takes on a life of its own and the opportunities for service are limitless.
Thanks for letting me share. Next post will be back to your regularly scheduled programming.
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